Mexican Avocado Imports Generated $641M for U.S. Trucking in FY 2025-26
Texas A&M study finds cross-border avocado shipments supported 4,150 trucking and warehousing jobs, with 98% moving by truck through Pharr and Laredo.
How much freight revenue do Mexican avocados generate for U.S. trucking?
Mexican Hass avocado imports generated $641.5 million in U.S. transportation and warehousing activity during fiscal year 2025-26, according to a Texas A&M University study released Wednesday. The shipments supported more than 4,150 jobs in trucking, refrigerated warehousing, and distribution.
Nearly 98% of Mexican avocados entering the U.S. in 2024 moved by truck through Texas land ports. The Pharr border crossing handled 58.2% of Mexican avocado imports, while Laredo accounted for another 39.4%, according to USDA data cited in the report.
The study, prepared by Gary W. Williams, an emeritus professor in Texas A&M's Department of Agricultural Economics, and Dan Hanselka, an extension program specialist, was commissioned by the Avocado Institute of Mexico. It estimated that $3.2 billion in Mexican Hass avocado imports contributed $7.1 billion in total U.S. economic output and supported 37,163 jobs across multiple industries during the fiscal year ending June 2026.
Where the freight moves after the border
Once shipments clear the border, avocados move through an extensive network of trucking companies, refrigerated warehouses, wholesalers, distribution centers, and food processors before reaching grocery stores, restaurants, and other customers nationwide. The report found that avocado shipments generate additional economic activity through purchases of fuel, equipment, transportation services, repairs, and other logistics-related services.
In Texas alone, $245.1 million in Mexican Hass avocado imports generated $428.9 million in economic output, contributed $265.5 million to the state's gross domestic product, and supported 2,402 jobs across industries.
California, the nation's largest avocado-consuming state, generated $968.2 million in economic output and supported 5,325 jobs associated with Mexican avocado imports. Together, Texas and California accounted for only 19% to 22% of the national economic contributions measured in the study, demonstrating how the supply chain extends throughout the country.
The broader economic footprint
The Texas A&M analysis found that $3.2 billion in Mexican Hass avocado imports during fiscal year 2025-26 contributed an estimated $4.4 billion to U.S. GDP. The imports also supported $2.4 billion in labor income and generated approximately $1 billion in federal, state, and local taxes.
"This report demonstrates the value of a deeply integrated North American supply chain built over decades between Mexico and the U.S.," said Ron Campbell, executive director of the Mexican Hass Avocado Import Association. "Mexican avocados don't simply cross the border, they generate economic activity throughout the U.S. economy, supporting transportation and distribution networks, retailers, restaurants and communities across the country."
The findings highlight the growing importance of cross-border trucking, refrigerated transportation, and distribution networks connecting Mexican agricultural producers with U.S. consumers. For carriers running refrigerated equipment on cross-border lanes, the study quantifies the scale of a single agricultural commodity's contribution to freight demand.
Why this matters for cross-border carriers
The $641.5 million in direct transportation and warehousing revenue represents a measurable slice of cross-border freight activity concentrated in two Texas gateways. Carriers operating refrigerated equipment through Pharr and Laredo are moving a product that generates consistent year-round demand, unlike seasonal agricultural commodities.
The study's breakdown of economic contributions beyond the border also underscores how cross-border freight supports domestic trucking jobs far from the ports of entry. The distribution network extending from Texas and California to the rest of the country creates backhaul opportunities and multi-stop routing for carriers serving grocery distribution centers, food processors, and restaurant supply chains.
For small fleets evaluating whether to invest in refrigerated equipment or pursue cross-border operating authority, the study provides a data point on the scale and geographic spread of a single high-volume agricultural import. The concentration of volume through two border crossings also signals where capacity competition is likely to be tightest during peak import periods.
